Rotary actuation device

ABSTRACT

An emergency release and rotary actuator including a cylinder containing compressed gas or ignitable chemical material, a pressure tube and electrically fired detonation means for releasing the gas into such pressure tube or igniting the chemical material to release the gaseous products of combustion there under pressure into such pressure tube, a piston within such pressure tube, the shaft of which extends outside the pressure tube and carries a lug which engages diverging slots in closely surrounding tubes, all except one of which is rotatable, and a shaft, gear, pulley, or arm attached to one or more of the rotatable concentric tubes. An electrical impulse from a sensing or manual switch causes a detonating force releasing gas or igniting the chemical to drive the piston, the shaft lug of which moves through the diverging slots to rotate at least one rotatable concentric tube to operate a latch, tighten a strap or position a panel or air bag. The addition of an outer tube or container around the pressure tube to conduct gas from apertures in the pressure tube to inflatable and extendable tubes or containers after completion of piston travel permits a sequential function of inflating and extending such tubes or containers after rotation.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 012,569, filed Feb. 15,1979, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a self-contained, electrically fired rotaryactuator for use in vehicles and in other applications where a highspeed and powered rotational force moving through a predetermined angleis required to operate a latch or position a protective restraint orexit panel for safety of persons.

Tests conducted by the Federal Government and by industry havedemonstrated that the application of a restraint upon a passengerinvolved in a vehicle accident must be within a fraction of a secondafter impact to provide useful protection. In case of accidentsinvolving vehicles carrying a large number of passengers, such asaircraft or buses, emergency exits must be opened within seconds.Maximum public acceptance and use of restraint systems and vehicleemergency devices requires the employment of unobtrusive devices whichpermit an optimum freedom of movement by passengers in normal vehicleoperations, yet instantaneous protection when an accident occurs. A highspeed device applying a predetermined amount of linear or rotary forceis required in emergencies to open or close latches or turn protectivedevices, exists and other devices to a desired position. The energysource for these emergency linear or rotary force devices may becentralized or may be unitized with the device itself for reliability oreconomies in space or weight. Actuation by springs, compressed gases orfluids under high pressure is well known in prior art. Explosiveactuators are also well known.

Review of prior art shows wide usage of compressed gas cylinders orcartridges to inflate air bag protective devices in vehicles and the useof electrically fired detonators to rupture the diaphragm sealing thegas cylinder. U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,245 granted to G. A. Ekstrom on Mar.2, 1971, discloses a diaphragm made of friable material sealing acompressed gas cylinder, such diaphragm being shattered by an explosivecharge upon electrical impulse, thereby releasing the gas into an airbag contained within the vehicle dashboard. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,772issued on Dec. 11, 1973, to T. E. Arnold et al, a domed diaphragm havinga discontinuous groove and a shaped charge with electrical leads isinserted into the outlet end of a compressed gas cylinder and ondetonation the domed diaphragm is severed by the shaped charge along thediscontinuous groove, thereby releasing the gas into a manifold and fromthe manifold to an inflatable cushion.

Movement of a vehicle passenger restraint from a stored position to adesired protective position has been previously achieved by the use ofsprings, cables, air bag configuration or a combination of these. U.S.Pat. No. 3,664,682 granted to C. E. Wycech on May 23, 1972, shows therotation of a cushion and separate air bag into position by release ofcompression springs. U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,576 issued on Aug. 21, 1973 toJ. F. Gorman, teaches the positioning of a composite elliptical bag overa passenger by gas and spring ejection followed by inflation of theshaped bag. U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,936 granted to R. R. Barnett et al onNov. 27, 1973, shows an inflatable cushion guided into position by, theuse of endless loop cables anchored at one point on each side of thecushion, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,168 issued to K. Honaka on Sept. 17,1974 teaches the drawing of a protective net into position by projectinginflatable tubes or projectiles attached to side cables or cords whichare drawn tight by expansion of separate inflatable tubes orprojectiles.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide a compact highseed rotary actuator which uses the force from high pressure gasesreleased from a cylinder to drive a piston which rotates a shaft withattached gear, pulley, arm or panel, thereby moving a latch, tighteninga strap or positioning a protective panel or air bag for greaterpassenger safety. It is a further purpose to provide such a devicecapable of sequentially unlatching and turning a shaft with attachmentsto a desired position. Another objective is to provide such a devicewhich sequentially rotates a shaft with attachments to a desiredposition and then releases the high pressure gas into a surrounding tubeor hollow shaft connected to one or more air bags or telescoping tubeswith attached plates or straps. A still further objective is to providesuch a device which permits independent positioning of protectiverestraints or air bag containers during normal operation of a vehiclebut moves automatically into desired position for passenger protectionin the event of accident.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a release and rotary actuator for theemergency release or engagement of latches and rotation of protectivedevices, escape exits and other vehicle parts and accessories to adesired position for passenger safety and escape, such devicecomprising:

a. a cylinder containing gas under pressure or ignitable chemicalmaterial capable of instantaneous generation of high pressure gas, suchcylinder being fixed into and sealing one end of a pressure tubecontaining electrically fired detonation means for rupturing thecylinder diaphragm or igniting the chemical material in the cylinder anda piston, such piston being driven outwardly to an annular stop by theforce of release or generation of high pressure gas;

b. a piston shaft extending outside the pressure tube and having one ormore lugs which engage diverging slots in two or more concentric tubesclosely surrounding the shaft, one of which tubes is in a fixed relationto the pressure tube and one or more other concentric tubes capable ofrotation or of rotating the concentric tube which is in fixed relationto the pressure tube when the piston shaft lug is driven through thediverging slots;

c. a gear, pulley, shaft or arm attached to one or more of the rotatableconcentric tubes, such gear, pulley, shaft or arm being attached to orengaging a latch, rack, strap, panel or pad and moving such latch, rack,panel or pad to a desired position upon rotation of one or moreconcentric tubes;

d. a sealed tube or container surrounding the pressure tube and intowhich gases released from apertures in the wall of the pressure tubeescape after completion of predetermined piston travel within thepressure tube, such surrounding tube or container being capable ofconducting the gases to one or more inflatable containers and of beingrotated in conjunction with rotation of the pressure tube, therebypositioning and inflating an air bag or other inflatable container forpassenger protection; and,

e. a sensing and triggering means furnishing electrical impulse to suchdetonation means within the pressure tube which ruptures the cylinderdiaphragm or ignites chemical material to release or generate gas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A description of the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is an end view of this device and attached gear fixed to anoverhead surface with the gear engaging the rack of a sliding latchlocking a hinged panel;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device taken along line 2--2 ofFIG. 1 and showing a straight longitudinal slot in the outer concentrictube of the device and a right to left spiral slot in the innerconcentric tube, both of which slots are engaged by a piston shaft lug;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 5;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device and attached gear engaging the rackof a sliding latch prior to movement to a latched position;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of the device taken along line 5--5of FIG. 4 and showing a left to right spiral slot in the innerconcentric tube;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the device mounted at the side ofa vehicle seat and engaging a restraint strap fastened to the vehiclestructure;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the device mounted as shown in FIG. 6 andengaging a restraint strap;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the deviceattached to a surface in which the outer concentric tube has a spiralslot and attached pulley and the inner concentric tube has alongitudinal slot;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of four units of the device as shown in FIGS. 2and 5 joined by shaft tubes and rotatably mounted to an overheadstructure;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the deviceshown partially in section with three concentric tubes as mounted alongthe hinge line of a folding panel with the inner concentric tube havinga straight longitudinal slot and being held in a fixed plane and the twoouter concentric tubes being rotatable and having spiral slots inopposite directions and attached arms which engage opposite panels;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the device as shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view showing two air bag containers mounted onshaft tubes connecting four of the devices in the configuration shown inFIG. 17;

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view showing three of the devices inthe FIG. 17 configuration fixed within sealed shaft tubes havingtelescoping tube and air bag restraint system attachments rotatablymounted to an overhead structure;

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are side elevational views of an air bag containerand air bag after rotation to a vertical position by the device shown inFIG. 17 and commencement of inflation; and,

FIG. 17 is a partial sectional view of the device in the configurationused in FIGS. 13-16 having apertures in the piston pressure tube whichrelease gas into the surrounding sealed tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Four basic configurations of this invention are shown in the drawingsand designated devices A, B, C, and D. Devices A and D are closelyrelated and are shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 17. Devices B and C areclosely related and shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, device A includes a hollow shaft 20, which may ormay not be sealed, containing a cylinder of compressed gas 90 which isscrewed into cap 30 and detonation tube 31 fixed on and into expansiontube 32. Detonation tube 31 contains detonator pin 34 and detonator 35,commercially available, with contacts 37 passing through the end of plug38. Expansion tube 32 is fixed to piston pressure tube 40 containsflanged piston 41, "O" rings 42 and leads 21 connected to contacts 37.Pressure tube 40 is fixed to hollow shaft end plug 45 and piston shafttube 27 is screwed or otherwise fastened into the end of pressure tube40, serving as a stop for flanged piston 41 and supporting piston shaft43. Piston shaft tube 27 is closely surrounded by outer concentric tube23 which is rotatably mounted to hollow shaft end plug 45 by retentionand bearing ring 22 fastened to end plug 45. Each of the piston shaftlugs 24 passes through a helical slot 26 in the wall of piston shafttube 27 and a straight longitudinal slot 25 in the wall of outerconcentric tube 23 and is screwed or otherwise fastened into theexternal end of piston shaft 43. Leads 21 pass through the walls of endplug 45 and run to a sensor and trigger switch located elsewhere and notshown.

Device D, as shown in FIG. 17, has the same elements as device A, shownin FIG. 3, with the exception of apertures 44 located in the walls ofpressure tube 40 to permit escape of gas from the pressure tube into thesurrounding hollow shaft 20 after travel of flanged piston 41 outwardlythrough pressure tube 40. In addition, hollow shaft 20 must be sealed byend plug 45 and at the opposite end.

Device B and C configurations, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, contain allof the internal parts common to either devices A or D, but includeexternal concentric tubes in which the inmost concentric tube, pistonshaft tube 127 in device B, as shown in FIG. 9, and tube 227 in deviceC, as shown in FIG. 11, has a straight longitudinal slot 126. Spiralslots are contained in the outer concentric tube 123 of device B, asshown in FIG. 9, and in middle concentric tube 223 and outer concentrictube 231 of device C, as shown in FIG. 11. In both device B and device Clug 24 passes through and engages these diverging slots and is fastenedinto piston shaft 43 as in devices A and D, shown in FIGS. 3 and 17.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, rotary actuation device A of this inventionis shown mounted on fixed surface 1 and positioned to rotate gear 11 inrack 12 to withdraw latch 14 holding hinged panel 2 in a closedposition. FIGS. 4 and 5 show device A similarly mounted and positionedto rotate gear 11 in rack 12 to drive latch 14 into a position lockingpanel 2.

FIGS. 1 and 2 considered together show that device A is mounted tosurface 1 by bracket 17 fixed to longitudinally slotted tube 23. Gear 11fixed to hollow shaft 20 by shaft cap 10 engages rack 12 slideablymounted in flanged channel 13 attached to surface 1. In FIG. 1, racklatch pin 14 is positioned within staple 15 fixed to surface 1 andstaple 16 fixed to panel 2 which is hinged to surface 1 on the oppositeedge by hinge 3. FIG. 2 shows piston lug 24 of device A passing throughand engaging longitudinal slot 25 in outer tube 23 and spiral slot 26 intube 27. In FIGS. 4 and 5 all elements of device A are the same as FIGS.1 and 2, except as hereinafter mentioned and except that rack 12 ispositioned at an outward point in channel 13 and rack pin 14 is notengaged with staples 15 and 16, thereby leaving hinged panel 2 in anunlatched position. Piston shaft tube 27a in FIG. 5 has a left to rightspiral slot 26a to produce the desired direction of rotation, whileexamination of FIG. 2 shows a right to left spiral slot 26 in pistonshaft tube 27 producing a rotation in the opposite direction.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, device A is shown mounted at the side of avehicle seat X on bracket 18, and restraint chest strap Y is attached tohollow shaft tube 20 of the device and, at the opposite end, to surface101 overhead. It is obvious that a second strap Y may be attached todevice A and to surface 101 on the opposite side of the vehicle and thatdevice A with strap Y attached may be mounted to the surface 101 of thevehicle with the opposite end of strap Y being attached to the seat orother vehicle surface. It is also obvious that each end of strap Y maybe attached to separate rotary devices A mounted at different points onsurface 101.

Configuration B of the device, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, includesessentially the elements of either device A in FIG. 3 or device D inFIG. 17, except that outer concentric tube 123 has a helical slot 125and inner piston shaft tube 127 has a straight longitudinal slot 126. Inthis embodiment of the invention, tube 20 is connected to surface 1 andthe ends of piston shaft tube 127 and outer concentric tube 123rotatably engage bearing 28 interconnected with surface 1. Travel ofpiston shaft lug 24 through the diverging slots rotates outer concentrictube 123 and attached pulley 118; device B thereby operating as areeling device. An advantage of this configuration is that pressure tube40 is not rotated around flanged piston 41 and "O" ring 42, shown inFIGS. 3 and 17, thereby permitting closer tolerances between piston 41and the inner wall of pressure tube 40 and between piston shaft 43 andthe inner wall of piston shaft tube 127. In addition, tube 20 does notrotate in device B, thereby greatly reducing the area of rotatingsurfaces.

FIG. 10 discloses an arrangement of four units in the device Aconfiguration mounted to surface 1 by brackets 17 fixed to outerconcentric tubes 23 and with the outer and center devices joined byhollow shafts 20. Center and outer devices on each side apply rotationalforce to hollow shafts 20 thereby tightening straps Y. It should berecognized that device D, as shown in FIG. 17, may be substituted fordevice A and used in this arrangement. Such use of device D would permitescape of high pressure gases into hollow shaft 20, thereby reducing theholding pressure on flanged piston 41 in its outward position aftershaft lug 24 has been driven through the diverging slots in outerconcentric tube 23 and piston shaft tube 27. It should also berecognized that device B may be substituted for device A and used in theassembly and, in such arrangement, inner piston shaft tube 127 is fixedto bracket 17 mounted to surface 1 and outer concentric tube 123 isrotated. In that arrangement, straps Y would be attached to pulley 118mounted on the outer concentric tube 123 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, device C configuration of the invention,having three concentric tubes with the two outer tubes rotatable, ismounted on the hinge line of folding panels P-1 and P-2. In device C,pressure tube 240 and piston shaft tube 227 fastened into tube 240 areheld in a fixed position. The lower end of shaft tube 227 is fastened tobearing end cap 51 which is fixed to hinge pin 56 above hinge hasps 58and 59. Bearing end cap 51 fits within and supports the lower end ofmiddle concentric tube 223 and flanged bearing and retention ring 50fastened around pressure tube 240 provides bearing surfaces for andretains outer concentric tube 231 and middle concentric tube 223. Pistonshaft lug 24 engages a straight longitudinal slot in piston shaft tube227, similar to slot 126 shown in FIG. 9, a right to left spiral slot225 in middle concentric tube 223 and a left to right spiral slot 232 inouter concentric tube 231. Arm 60 is fixed to the outer wall of outerconcentric tube 231 and engages ring 62 fastened to panel P-2 and arm 61is fixed to middle concentric tube 223 at a point below the end of outertube 231 and engages ring 63 fastened to panel P-1. When lug 24 isdriven through the diverging slots, middle tube 223 is rotated to theright and outer tube 231 is rotated to the left drawing panels P-1 andP-2 to a folded position. It should be noted that device C does notinclude hollow shaft 20 as in FIGS. 3, 9, and 17, but all other elementsof device C are the same as device A as shown in FIG. 3 except as abovedescribed and shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show assemblies which incorporate device D configurationof the invention at each end of hollow shaft 20. As previously noted,device D has the same elements as device A, except that piston pressuretube 40 has apertures 44 in the wall which release the high pressuregases from cylinder 90 into hollow shaft 20 after piston 41 and "O" ring42 have been driven to the inner end of shaft tube 27 sealing pressuretube 40 from shaft tube 27. In FIG. 13, air bag containers Z-1 and Z-2are attached to and are held in a horizontal position by hollow shaft20. As shown in FIG. 14, device D at the outer and center ends of hollowshaft 20 is fixed to brackets 117 which in turn are connected to surface1 by bolts. FIG. 13 shows piston shaft lugs 24 in an inward position ineach device D unit prior to operation and FIG. 14 shows the lugs afterthey have been driven outwardly through diverging slots in outerconcentric tube 23 and piston shaft tube 27, thereby rotating the airbag container and internal component toward a vertical position,releasing high pressure gases from pressure tube 40 in device D throughapertures 44 into hollow shaft 20 and from hollow shaft 20 throughapertures 99 into telescoping tube 110 and air bag 111, therebyextending telescoping tube 110 and lap plate 112 and inflating air bag111. FIGS. 15 and 16 provide side views of air bag container Z-1, airbag 111 and lap plate 112 after completion of rotation by two units ofdevice D and commencement of extension and inflation of air bag 111 andlap plate 112.

In operation of device A, as shown in FIG. 3, an electrical impulse froma switch, triggered by a commercially available impact sensor ormanually operated, through lead wires 21 to the explosive charge withinpin device 34 causes detonation of explosive 35 which drives pin 34 intothe diaphragm 91 of compressed gas cylinder 90, releasing gases atpressures ranging from 800 to 3,000 psi, as selected. Explosive gasesfrom explosive 35 escape from apertures 36 and cylinder gases passthrough aperture 33 in detonation tube 31 into expansion tube 32 openinginto pressure tube 40, thereby driving flanged piston 41 and "O" ring 42outwardly through the pressure tube. Upon completion of the strokeflanged piston 41 and "O" ring 42 press against the inner end of pistonshaft tube 27 fitted into the end of pressure tube 40 and seal pressuretube 40 from shaft tube 27. The trapped high pressure gases hold piston41 in an outward position. The internal elements of device B and Cconfigurations operate in the same manner.

In device A, as shown in FIG. 3, the stroke of flanged piston 41 andshaft 43 drives shaft lug 24 through spiral slot 26 in piston shaft tube27 and straight longitudinal slot 25 in outer concentric tube 23. Whenouter concentric tube 23 is fixed to surface 1, or 101 as shown in FIGS.1, 2, 4-7, and 10, the travel of piston shaft lug 24 through divergingslots 25 and 26 rotates piston shaft tube 27 and along with it pressuretube 40 and hollow shaft 20 with attachments. In FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5,rotation of hollow shaft 20 and attached gear 11 in rack 12 moves latchpin 14 from a locked to an unlocked position by the use of a right toleft spiral slot 26 in piston shaft tube 27 and from an unlocked to alocked position by the use of a left to right spiral slot 26a in pistonshaft tube 27a.

Activation of device A, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10 causes rotationof hollow shaft 20 and serves to tighten strap Y attached to shaft 20.Where a greater tightening force is required, strap Y may be attached toa device A at both ends of strap Y or two units of device A may beinserted and fastened into each end of a single hollow shaft 20, asshown in FIG. 10, with one device A unit having a right to left spiralslot 26 in piston shaft tube 27 and the other having a left to rightspiral slot 26a in piston shaft tube 27a. It is readily apparent thatadditional power can also be attached when needed by joining units inparallel.

In device B configuration, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and device Cconfiguration, shown in FIG. 11, the inmost concentric tube, pistonshaft tubes 127 and 227, respectively, are held in a fixed position andhave straight longitudinal slots 126 and 226, respectively. In operationof device B, when piston shaft lug 24 is driven through the slots 126,lug 24 also moves through spiral slot 125 in outer concentric tube 123,thereby rotating pulley 118. In operation of device C, lug 24 is driventhrough spiral slots 225 and 232 in the middle and outer concentrictubes 223 and 231, respectively, thereby rotating arms 60 and 61,respectively.

It should be noted that in all configurations of the device of thisinvention, devices A-D, the application of an external torque to anattachment fixed to a rotatable member causes the edges of the helicalslots to apply an angular force to piston shaft lug 24, moving the lug24 and piston 41 inwardly or outwardly. In those arrangements wherelongitudinal slot 25 is in the outer concentric tube 23 and the helicalslot is in the inmost concentric tube, piston shaft tube 27, angularforce by slot 26 against lug 24 also presses the lug against the edgesof longitudinal slot 25 in outer concentric tube which brakes the inwardor outward movement of lug 24. On the other hand, where the helicalslots are contained in the outer concentric tubes, as in device B anddevice C, the angular force being applied by the slot edges to the outerends of lug 24 is greater as a result of external torque and the brakingeffect of the straight longitudinal slot in the inmost concentric tube127 in FIG. 9 and 227 in FIG. 11 is reduced. Accordingly, when anexternal rotational force is applied to pulley 118 in FIG. 9 or arms 60and 61 in FIG. 11, lug 24 and piston 41 would be moved inwardly oroutwardly with relative ease. In device C, the manual opening of panelsP-1 and P-2 results in outward and downward movement of shaft lug 24 andmanual closing results in inward and upward movement of lug 24. In theevent that panels P-1 and P-2 have been partially opened by externalforce, actuation of device C drives piston lug 24 downwardly through theremaining length of the diverging slots, moving panels P-1 and P-2 tothe fully opened position and retaining the panels in the open positionuntil pressure on flanged piston 41 has been dissipated by leakage orreleased by removal of cylinder 90. If desired, minute leakage holes maybe made in the walls of piston pressure tube 40 or 240 to provide atimed holding pressure on shaft lug 24. Also, if desired, self-latchingand unlatching provisions may be easily added to device C configurationand to device A, B, and D configurations by incorporating a notch 25aengaging lug 24 at the inward end of the diverging slots or byincorporating a short length of non-diverging slots 26a in FIG. 17 atthe inward end and attaching a spring latch which engages the externalend of lug 24 and prevents movement of lug 24 except by lineal forceapplied by flanged piston 41 or externally to the protruding end of lug24.

Configuration D of the device, as shown in FIG. 17, contains the sameinternal and external elements as device A configuration shown in FIG.3, except that apertures 44 are incorporated near the outward end ofpiston pressure tube 40 and hollow shaft 20 must be tightly sealed atboth ends, either by use of a unit of device D at each end of hollowshaft 20, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, or by use of a closing plug atthe end opposite from the end in which device D is inserted. Uponoperation of device D, piston shaft lug 24 is driven through divergingslots 25 and 26 in outer concentric tube 23 and piston shaft tube 27,thereby rotating tube 27 and with it hollow shaft 20. Upon completion ofpiston stroke, the face of the piston 41 is at a point which permits thehigh pressure gases to escape into hollow shaft 20, passing throughaperture 99 into an attached inflatable container 111 or into attachedtelescoping tube 110, as shown in FIG. 14. It is readily apparent thatan inflatable strap may be attached to one or more nozzles inserted intoaperture 99 in the walls of hollow shaft 20, with such strap being firsttightened by rotation and then inflated upon activation of device D.

Considering FIGS. 13 through 16 together, air bag containers Z-1 and Z-2with four units of device D are normally held in a horizontal positionas shown in FIG. 13. The cantilevered weight of containers Z-1 and Z-2applies a torque through hollow shaft 20 which rotates piston shaft tube27 and presses piston shaft lug 24 against one side of longitudinal slot25 in outer concentric tube 23, normally preventing unwanted downwardrotation of the containers. If desired, self-locking features, discussedabove, may be incorporated, or one or both edges of slot 25 may benotched along the entire length thereby holding lug 24 in the desiredposition until an overriding lineal force is applied to lug 24. Suchprovisions enable the use of the rotatable air bag containers either ina locked horizontal position or as a sun visor during normal operations.

Upon activation of device D by electrical impulse from a sensor ormanual switch to detonator pin 34, containers Z-1 and Z-2 attached tohollow shaft 20 are rotated to a vertical position at which pointflanged piston 41 is in a position which releases gases into telescopingtube 110 and air bag 111, thereby pressing open container covers 115 andextending and inflating air bag 111 in a position in front of thepassenger. It should be noted that when containers Z-1 and Z-2 are beingused as sun visors and are positioned in a partially or fully downposition, lug 24 may be at an intermediate point along longitudinal slot25 in outer concentric tube 23 or in a full outward position. In suchposition, flanged piston 41 is at an outward point within pressure tube40 and upon activation completes the remaining stroke, if any, suchstroke drives lug 24, rotating Z-1 or Z-2 to a vertical or holding Z-1or Z-2 in the vertical and immediately releasing gases through apertures44 into hollow shaft 20 and telescoping tube 110 with surrounding airbag 111.

It is readily apparent that the assembly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may bevaried by providing only one device D in either the outer or center endof hollow shaft tube 20. In such arrangement, an end plug with spindlemay be inserted in the end opposite and permitted to rotate freely in abearing fixed to a bracket mounted to surface 1. If desired, such an endplug without rotational force capability may be provided with leads 21and a detonation tube and detonator to hold a gas cylinder 90 orcylinder of ignitable chemical material which releases gas immediatelyinto hollow shaft 20 upon activation by electrical impulse. In such aconfiguration, the process of extension and expansion of telescopingtube 110 and air bag 111 with lap plate 112 would commence at the sametime that containers Z-1 and Z-2 are being rotated by force from deviceD at the opposite end of hollow shaft 20. Upon completion of pistonstroke by device D, gases released into hollow shaft 20 from device Dcomplete the inflation of air bags 111.

It should be noted that while the devices shown in the drawings anddescribed above use one type of explosive actuator to rupture thediaphragm 91 of gas cylinder 90, there are other types of such actuatorscommercially available and gas cylinders with diaphragms ruptured byexplosive charges are also commercially available. The use of gascylinders with diaphragms ruptured by shaped charges or of cylinders ofignitable chemical material would enable gas cylinder 90 or suchchemical material cylinder to be fastened into a cap 30 fixed on theinward end of pressure tube 40, thereby eliminating the need fordetonation tube 31 and expansion tube 32, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 17.Various other changes and modification to the devices disclosed may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, therefore, theinvention should be defined by the following claims:

I claim:
 1. An emergency rotary actuation device, including:a. apressure tube having a sealed chamber secured to one end thereof, b. apiston positioned within said pressure tube, said piston having a shaftextending therefrom to the other end of said pressure tube, c. a sourceof gas pressure contained within said chamber, d. condition responsiveelectrically fired explosive means for initiating the substantiallycomplete release of gas pressure from said chamber into said piston tubefor longitudinally moving said piston within said pressure tube, e. afirst concentric tube extending from said other end of said pressuretube, at least a portion of said shaft extending into said firstconcentric tube, and said first concentric tube having a slot formed inthe wall thereof and extending along a substantial portion thereof, f. asecond concentric tube concentrically mounted with respect to said firstconcentric tube, said second concentric tube having a slot formed in thewall thereof extending along the portion of the length thereof overlyingthe slot portion of the length of said first concentric tube, g. one ofsaid slots being straight and the other of said slots being helical, h.at least one lug carried by said shaft and extending radially outwardlyand engaging both of said slots, i. means for preventing rotation of oneof said tubes, j. cylinder housing means concentrically and rotatablymounted about said pressure tube, said sealed chamber, and saidcondition responsive electrically fired explosive means, k. rotationresponsive operator means secured to said cylinder housing means, and l.whereby upon actuation of said electrically fired explosive initiatingmeans, said gas pressure forces said piston along said pressure tube andsaid shaft and said lug and cause relative rotation of said concentrictubes and operation of said operator means.
 2. An emergency rotaryactuation device as in claim 1 and wherein:a. said second concentrictube being held in a fixed position and said first concentric tube beingrotatable with respect to said second concentric tube.
 3. An emergencyrotary actuation device as in claim 1 and wherein:a. said helical slotincludes a straight portion parallel to said straight slot.
 4. Anemergency rotary actuation device as in claim 1 and including:a. atleast one notch formed in at least one edge of said straight slot.
 5. Anemergency rotary actuation device as in claim 1 and wherein:a. saidpressure tube includes at least one aperture in the wall thereof nearthe limit of piston travel for release of gas pressure from saidpressure tube after said piston has traveled along said pressure tube.6. An emergency rotary actuation device as in claim 5 and wherein:a.said piston includes an annular flange thereon and said pressure tubeincludes an annular stop engageable by said flange for limiting theextent of travel of said piston.
 7. An emergency rotary actuation deviceas in claim 1 and wherein:a. said pressure tube is secured within saidcylinder housing, means b. said second concentric tube is secured to afixed surface, and c. said cylinder housing means is rotatable withrespect to said fixed surface.
 8. An emergency rotary actuation deviceas in claim 7 and wherein:a. said cylinder housing means is sealed. 9.An emergency rotary actuation device as in claim 7 and wherein:a. saidrotation responsive operator means is attached to said cylinder housingmeans, and b. said cylinder housing means is secured to said firstconcentric tube.
 10. An emergency rotary actuation device comprising:a.a pressure tube having a sealed chamber secured to one end thereof, b. apiston positioned within said pressure tube, said piston having a shaftextending therefrom through the other end of said pressure tube, c. asource of gas pressure contained within said chamber, d. conditionresponsive electrically fired explosive means for initiating thesubstantially complete release of gas pressure from said chamber intosaid pressure tube for longitudinally moving said piston within saidpressure tube, e. a first concentric tube secured to and extending fromsaid other end of said pressure tube, at least a portion of said shaftextending into said first concentric tube, and said first concentrictube having a slot formed in the wall thereof and extending along asubstantial portion thereof, f. a second concentric tube rotatablyconcentrically mounted with respect to said first concentric tube, saidsecond concentric tube having a slot formed in the wall thereofextending along the portion of the length thereof overlying the slottedportion of the length of said first concentric tube, g. at least one lugcarried by said shaft and extending radially outwardly and engaging bothof said slots, h. a third concentric tube rotatably concentricallymounted with respect to said first and said second tubes, said thirdtube having a slot formed in the wall thereof extending along theportion of the length thereof overlying the slotted portions of thelength of said first and second concentric tubes, i. two of said slotsbeing helical and said lug engaging the slot in each of said tubes, j.first rotation responsive operator means connected to one of said tubes,k. second rotation responsive operator means connected to another ofsaid tubes, and l. whereby upon actuation of said electrically firedexplosive opening initiating means, said gas pressure forces said pistonalong said pressure tube and said shaft and said lug cause relativerotation of said concentric tubes and operation of said first and secondoperator means.
 11. An emergency rotary actuation device as in claim 10and wherein:a. said helical slots are oppositely directed.
 12. Anemergency rotary actuation device as in claim 1 or 10 and wherein:a.said source of gas pressure includes a rupturable sealing element, b.said electrically fired explosive means includes a detonation tubesecured around said sealing element at one end thereof, c. an expansionchamber surrounding said detonation tube and in communication with saidpiston tube, d. at least one aperture in said detonation tube forcommunication with said expansion tube, e. a detonator pin within saiddetonation tube, f. a detonator associated with said detonator pin, g.lead wires from said detonator to an exteriorly positioned, impactresponsive switch, and h. whereby an electrical impulse from said switchcauses the explosion of said detonator forcing said detonator pin alongsaid detonation tube and through said sealing element thereby releasinggas from said source of gas pressure.
 13. An emergency rotary actuationdevice, comprising:a. a pressure tube having a sealed chamber secured toone end thereof; b. a piston positioned within said pressure tube, saidpiston having a shaft extending therefrom to the other end of saidpressure tube; c. a source of gas pressure contained within saidchamber; d. condition responsive electrically fired explosive means forinitiating the substantially complete release of gas pressure from saidchamber into said pressure tube for longitudinally moving said pistonwithin said pressure tube; e. a first concentric tube extending fromsaid other end of said pressure tube, at least a portion of said shaftextending into said first concentric tube, and said first concentrictube having a slot formed in the wall thereof and extending along asubstantial portion thereof; f. a second concentric tube concentricallymounted with respect to said first concentric tube, said secondconcentric tube having a slot formed in the wall thereof extending alongthe portion of the length thereof overlying the slotted portion of thelength of said first concentric tube; g. said second concentric tubeslot being generally helical and said first concentric tube slot beinggenerally straight; h. at least one lug carried by said shaft andextending radially outwardly and engaging both of said slots; i. saidsecond concentric tube adapted for rotation relative to said firstconcentric tube; j. said second concentric tube having an end opposedfrom said pressure tube; k. cylinder housing means concentricallymounted about said pressure tube, said sealed chamber, and saidconditioned responsive electrically fired explosive means; l. bracketmeans connected to said cylinder housing means and to generally said endof said second concentric tube for mounting said rotary actuation deviceon a surface, said bracket being adapted to permit rotation of saidsecond concentric tube; m. rotation responsive operator means securedgenerally to said end of said second concentric tube; and, n. wherebyupon actuation of said electrically fired explosive initiating means,said gas pressure forces said piston along said pressure tube and saidshaft and said lug cause relative rotation of said concentric tubes andoperation of said opertor means.
 14. An emergency rotary actuationdevice, including:a. a pressure tube having a sealed chamber secured toone end thereof; b. a piston positioned within said pressure tube, saidpiston having a shaft extending therefrom to the other end of saidpressure tube; c. a source of gas pressure contained within saidchamber; d. condition responsive electrically fired explosive means forinitiating the substantially complete release of gas pressure from saidchamber into said piston tube for longitudinally moving said pistonwithin said pressure tube; e. a first concentric tube extending fromsaid other end of said pressure tube, at least a portion of said shaftextending into said first concentric tube, and said first concentrictube having a slot formed in the wall thereof and extending along asubstantial portion thereof; f. a second concentric tube concentricallymounted with respect to said first concentric tube, said secondconcentric tube having a slot formed in the wall thereof extending alonga portion of the length thereof overlying the slot portion of the lengthof said first concentric tube; g. one of said slots being straight andthe other of said slots being helical; h. at least one lug carried bysaid shaft and extending radially outwardly and engaging both of saidslots; i. means for preventing rotation of one of said tubes; j.cylinder housing means concentrically and rotatably mounted about saidpressure tube, said sealed chamber, and said condition responsiveelectrically fired explosive means; k. said cylinder housing meansincluding rotation responsive operator means; l. said pressure tubeincluding at least one aperture in the wall thereof near the limit ofpiston travel for release of gas pressure from said pressure tube aftersaid piston has traveled along said pressure tube; m. said cylinderhousing being sealed; n. said aperture in said pressure tubecommunicating with the interior of said cylinder housing; o. saidhousing including at least one aperture for release of pressurized gas;p. a flexible container attached to said cylinder housing means andsealed around said aperture and said cylinder housing for receivingreleased gas; and, q. whereby upon actuation of said electrically firedexplosive initiating means, said gas pressure forces said piston alongsaid pressure tube and said shaft and said lug and cause relativerotation of said concentric tubes in operation of said operator means.15. Emergency rotary actuation device, including:a. a pressure tubehaving a sealed chamber secured to one end thereof; b. a pistonpositioned within said pressure tube, said piston having a shaftextending therefrom to the other end of said pressure tubes; c. a sourceof gas pressure contained within said chamber; d. condition response ofelectrically fired explosive means for initiating the substantiallycomplete release of gas pressure from said chamber into said pressuretube for longitudinally moving said piston within said pressure tube; e.a first concentric tube extending from said other end of said pressuretube, at least a portion of said shaft extending into said firstconcentric tube, and said first concentric tube having a slot formed inthe wall thereof and extending along a substantial portion thereof; f. asecond concentric tube concentrically mounted with respect to said firstconcentric tube, said concentric tube having a slot formed in the wallthereof extending along the portion of the length thereof overlying theslot portion of the length of said first concentric tube; g. one of saidslots being straight and the other of said slots being helical; h. atleast one lug carried by said shaft and extending radially outwardly andengaging both of said slots; i. means for preventing rotation of one ofsaid tubes; j. cylinder housing means concentrically and rotatablymounted about said pressure tube, said sealed chamber, and saidcondition responsive electrically fired explosive means; k. saidcylinder housing means including rotation responsive operator means;said pressure tube including at least one aperture in the wall thereofnear the limit of piston travel for release of gas pressure from saidpressure tube after said piston has traveled along said pressure tube;m. said cylinder housing means is sealed; n. said aperture in saidpressure tube communicating with the interior of said cylinder housingmeans; o. said cylinder housing means including at least one aperturefor release of pressurized gas; p. a telescopic tube attached to saidcylinder housing means and sealed around said aperture and said cylinderhousing means for receiving release gas; and, q. whereby upon actuationof said electrically fired explosive initiating means, said gas pressureforces said piston along said pressure tube and said shaft and said lugand cause relative rotation of said concentric tubes in operation ofsaid operator means.
 16. An emergency rotary actuation device as inclaim 15 and including:a. a substantially rigid member attached to saiddistal end of said telescopic tube.